title: Musculoskeletal disorders and symptom severity among Australian dental hygienists.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent literature has identified that musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are a significant occupational health issue for both dentists and dental hygienists. Research on the occupational health of dental hygienists is lacking in Australia, which is of particular concern given that it is a rapidly growing field in this country. The aims of this research are to investigate the prevalence of MSD and correlating regions of pain among Australian dental hygienists. A self-reporting questionnaire was distributed to all registered dental hygienists in Australia. The questionnaire was a modified version of a validated tool, used previously among health practitioners and students.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 624 dental hygienists responded to the questionnaire, achieving a response rate of 42%. MSD were frequently reported by dental hygienists in the neck (85%), shoulder (70%), and lower back (68%). Of those reporting pain, over two thirds reported that the pain lasted for longer than two days, for all body regions. Logistic regression analysis revealed that there is a correlation between reports of MSD in the neck, shoulder and lower back regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, this study suggests that MSD are a reasonably common problem for Australian dental hygienists, and that they often need to seek medical treatment for these problems. It is concerning that there is a correlation between reports of MSD in the neck, shoulder and lower back regions; further studies are needed to establish the epidemiological patterns of MSD in this profession.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, PO Box 127, Ourimbah 2258, Australia. Melanie.Hayes@newcastle.edu.au
authors.forename: Melanie J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Derek R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Jane A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D003756:Dental Hygienists; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires